Preventing and Treating Athlete's Foot

Concentrating on work or school isn't so easy when you have athlete's foot. No matter how hard you try to focus, it's hard to ignore your itching, burning feet. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to ease your pain and avoid another infection once you've healed. The podiatrists at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists in Turnersville and Pennsauken, NJ, help athlete's foot suffers overcome the itch with treatments that offer real relief.

What to do about athlete's foot?

If you've just noticed the symptoms of athlete's foot, over-the-counter anti-fungal creams, sprays, and powders may relieve itching and dry leaking blisters. Unfortunately, drugstore products aren't always helpful if you have a severe or stubborn fungal infection.

It's a good idea to schedule an appointment with your Turnersville or Pennsauken foot doctor if your infection lasts longer than two or three weeks, you experience severe cracking or pain, or develop a bacterial infection. Call your podiatrist as soon as you notice signs of athlete's foot if you have diabetes. You may be at increased risk of developing a secondary infection due to the effects of the disease.

Your podiatrist can prescribe topical medications that help your foot heal and kill the fungus responsible for the infection. Oral anti-fungal medication may be prescribed if topical medication isn't helpful.

How to prevent athlete's foot

Preventing athlete's foot involves two steps:

• Keeping your feet dry
• Avoiding surface or items that may be contaminated with the fungus that causes athlete's foot

The fungus multiplies in damp, dark places, like the inside of your shoes. Rotate your shoes every day, add a little powder to your feet to help keep them dry, and consider changing your socks throughout the day if your feet perspire heavily.

Athlete's foot fungus is very contagious and is often found in public places, like shower rooms, locker rooms, and public pool decks. Wearing shower shoes or sandals in these areas can reduce your risk of a new infection. If you and a family member or roommate have been passing the infection back and forth, don't share shoes or socks and wash materials that come in contact with the feet, including socks, towels, wash clothes, sheets, and bath mats, in hot water.

Banish athlete's foot with a visit to the foot doctor. Schedule an appointment with podiatrists at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists by calling (856) 875-8855 for the Turnersville, NJ, office, or (856) 448-5290 for the Pennsauken, NJ, office.